The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-08
A WEST POINT ''PLEBE.'
-Annoyances to Which c Candi-
date is Subjected.
First Experiences of Life at the Famous
Military Academy - Reporting The
COMMITTEE of Reception" Etc.

A West Point correspondent contrib
utes the following spicy and graphic
account of life at the academy to the
Philadelphia Times:
Do you know what report means?
Well, it usually signifies loud noise,
but when a candidate for military
1aurels reports at West Point he
makes very little noise. indeed. To ex-
plain, let me refer you to my own case.
Every reader of the Times is aware
that my name is Hancock de Grant and
that a record of the same may be seen
in a recent register of the United States
Military academy. 1t was in the
spring, the balmy spring, that l received
my appointment, conditiOnally &C
scepted, as a cadet at the National
academy. With what a pleasure !
strobe the sylvan dells of my Western
home; that large folded paper, bearing
the signature of the Secretary of War,
in the coat pocket next to my heart,
and the girl loved best on the same
side. Ye gods! what bright pictures
of the future arose. cheering at both
her and me. Who could tell but that
she. too, might some day be the bride
of a great General, namely, myself
Hancock de Grant?
At one moment the smoke of battle
filed the air and the roar of artillery
drowned the babble of the pleasant
brook at our feet; the next moment
uncOnsciously pressed her closer to my
bosom and dreamed of cleaning sabers
Flashing and changing in the greatest
battle of the age, led by General Han
cock de Grant.
The days sped by until, luckily, the
time for reporting was near. l say
luckily, because if the time had been
longer the lunatic asylum might have
claimed another recruit to its army of
enthusiasts, and in that event l might
have Jared worse than actually did at
squad drills" and ''yearling recep-
tions."
A faint rumor of haLing and of drills
had reached me in my far off Western
home, but the determination of Han
cock de Grant was that nothing should
deter him in his onward stride to fame
Bidding all an aff'ectionate adieu, trac-
ing kiss upon her lips and giving her
a pressing invitation to be present at
the next summers hops, ofwhich 1 had
heard so much, l boarded an Eastern
bound train. After a long and dusty
ride West Point was reached.
Ny appointment commissioned me
to report at the adjutant's Office, nine
o'clock a. m, June. 1S8-. l was
there on time. The adjutant of the
academy. a gentlemanly army officer,
was very courteous. l found myself in
company with about two-score candi-
dates. others reporting during the sue
ceeding days. Some had already re-
ported. We were dispatched with an
orderly IAN officers valeO to the
hospital, whre rigid physical examina-
ton was undergone, most of us being
sadjudged suitable for the service. Re-
turning 10 headquarters the polite adj
jutant babe the orderly escort us to the
bar1ack and deliver us to the tender
care of the cadet officers in charge of
new cadets.
You should have seen that motley
throng of candidates, striplings from
every part of the Union, and stamped
with the peculiarities of their section of
country. Some with darkened upper
lips, others mustacheless; some wear
ing long tailed coats, others 6ob-tailed
coats; some silk hats, others Texas
sombreros, and so on in infinite variety.
We were being towed along, high hopes
burning, but not without an uueasiness
as to the mysterious ways of the cadets
we saw. What was that little group
ahead? Oh! they were cadets. Look
at their broad shoulders, little waists
and snowy trousers. Surely such gen.
tlemanly looking little fellows win
treat us ike brothers, thought. But
won't pa and ma feel happy when 1 go
home on vacation! 1 shall smile ap-
provingly as pass my soon-to-be COM
rades. We were brushing past them.
Take your eyes off me. mister" with
4 rising accent on the ''mister.
What! could they be so rude? l
thought not, and hoped inwardly that
all the cadets were not capable of
affecting such savage look as did the
young fellow who spoke.
Soon the barracks was reached. The
orderly returned to bring over other re-
cruits, leaving us completely alone. For
several minutes we stood silently in the
hallway of the Tenth division of bar
racks. Before us was an open door.
A placard displayed the word Office"
Inside 1--WE knew from the sight we
caught of white trousers and cleaning
bel-buttons) were the committee of
reception" They were silent; we were
silent Why didn't they ask us
inf With true Western chiyalry l
volunteered to be spokesman of our lit
tie band. In / bolted, but befors my
lips were to render their important